Air quality in detached house areas in Uusimaa

The lung-deposited surface area (LDSA) concentration of particles in the air describes the surface area of the particulate matter that settles in the deepest parts of the lungs, i.e. the alveoli. The results are available as a graph or table. Monitoring results from detached housing areas and a background area (Luukki) in the Helsinki metropolitan area have also been included for comparison purposes. In the graph, you can select one or more monitoring items that you want to view. The monitoring results are displayed hourly. You can select a day, week, or month as the reference period. The monitoring results are unverified hourly averages.

We monitor the impact of wood burning on the air quality in detached house areas in Uusimaa. The monitoring sites are: 

2024: Sudetti in Karkkila
2025: Järvenpää
2026: Kerava
2027: Loviisa
2028: Mäntsälä

We monitor LDSA concentrations that indicate emissions from wood burning. In addition, we monitor the concentrations of carcinogenic PAH compounds from wood burning at the same site.

In the Helsinki metropolitan area, the LDSA concentrations of particles in the air are particularly affected by traffic exhaust gases, smoke from wood burning, and long-range transport of air pollutants. The annual averages are approximately 20 µm2/cm3 in very busy environments, 11–12 µm2/cm3 in densely built detached house areas, and 8 µm2/cm3 in rural settings. There is no guideline or limit value for the LDSA concentration.